Method of packing stacks of flat articles into packages and framework used for effecting same

ABSTRACT

A method of packing stacks of flat articles into packages, whereby a stack is placed along with a wrapping material into a split framework embracing the stack in such a manner that the material wraps it along the upper and two opposite lateral sides, the subsequent bending of the ends of the material to under the lower side of the stack and bending of the end faces of the package being effected in the split framework. The framework used for effecting this method comprises a box open from the bottom and two opposite face sides, the side walls of the box being provided with vertical slots along which the projections of a plate move.

United States Patent 1191 Duchinsky et a].

[4 1 Apr. 16, 1974 METHOD OF PACKING STACKS OF FLAT ARTICLES INTO PACKAGES AND FRAMEWORK USED FOR EFFECTING SAME [22] Filed: Mar. 4, I971 [21] App]. No.: 120,843

52 US. Cl. ..s3/32, 5 3/232 51 Int. (:1 B65b .11/26,B65b 11/22,

3 1. B65b/13 02 [58] Field of Search 53/32, 34, 232, 224

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,120 McCombs 53/232 836,728 ii/1906 Wright 53/232 x 1,590,366 6/l926 Grimm et 31.... 53/232 x 1,851,457 3/1932 Smith et al 53/32 1,961,661 6/1934 Fuller 53/34 1,965,992 7 1934 Silvay 53/390 x 1,975,913 10/1934 Wheeler... 52 232 2,066,260 12/1936 Field 52/232 x 2,297,432 9/1942 Rasch et al. 53/32 3,212,230 10/1965 Coates 53/32 x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 770,124 3/1957 Great Britain 53/232 F Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerI-Iorace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz 32 5391 [5 7 ABSTRACT A method of packing stacks of flat articles into packages, whereby a stack is placed along with a wrapping material into a split framework embracing the stack in such a manner that the material wraps it along the upper and two opposite lateral sides, the subsequent bending of the ends of the material to under the lower side of the stack and bending of the end faces of the package being effected in the split framework.

The framework used for effecting this method comprises a box open from the bottom and two opposite face sides, the side walls of the box being provided with vertical slots along which the projections of a plate move.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures METHOD OF PACKING STACKS OF FLAT ARTICLES INTO PACKAGES AND FRAMEWORK USED FOR EFFECTING SAME The present invention relates to methods of packing articles into a wrapping material and, more particularly, to methods of packing stacks of flat articles into packages to frameworks used for carrying out the methods. A

The present invention can be most successfully used in packing polygraphic products of the newspaper type, stowed in stacks of various heights, although it can likewise be used for packing other polygraphic products, such as books and journals, as well as for packing stacks of flat articles, for instance, boxes of sweets, pencils, etc.

Presently known methods of packing stacks of polygraphic products of the newspaper type include the following operations: unreeling the wrapping material, packing a preliminarily wrapped up stack with this material along the upper and two opposite lateral sides thereof, bending the free end of the wrapping material to extend underneath the lower side of the stack, cutting off the other end of the wrapping material, bending the cut-off end of the material to extend underneath the lower side of the stack to form a package with open face sides, and subsequently bending the end faces of the package until the latter is ready.

This method of packing necessitates preliminary wrapping up of the stacks to be packed, since, while a stack in the form of a package with open end faces is being transported toward the operative station for bending the end faces, newspapers displace in the stack, which results in a package of poor quality.

Additionally, these methods do not provide for a constant fixing of the wrapping material with respect to a stack being packed when a package with open end faces is being transported toward the operative station for bending the end faces, which results in displacement of the wrapping material relative the stack and lowers the quality of the package.

The present invention has as its object the provision of such a method of packing stacks into packages, which will ensure formation of high-quality packages without anypreliminary wrapping up of the stacks due to a constant fixing of the wrapping material with respect to a stack being packed without their mutual displacement.

This object is accomplished by the method of packing stacks into packages, comprising the following operations: unreeling a wrapping material, wrapping a stack with the material along the upper and two opposite lateral sides thereof, bending the free end of the material to extend underneath the lower side of the stack, cutting off the other end of the wrapping mate-. rial, bending the cut-off end of the material to extend underneath the lower side of the stack to form a package with open face sides and, then, bending the end faces of the package to make the latter ready. According to the present invention, the stack is then placed along with the wrapping material into a split framework which so em braces the stack that the material packs'the latter along the upper and two opposite lateral sides, and the subsequent bending of the ends of the material to extend underneath the lower side of the stack and the bending of the end faces of the package are effected within the split framework which, with a ready package removed therefore, is used for packing subsequent stacks.

It is expedient to make the framework used in carrying out the method of the present invention as a box which is open on the bottom and two opposite face sides, the side walls of the box being provided with vertical slots, and a plate disposed within the box, designed to fix the material on the stack and having projections disposed in the slots to provide for plate translational movement along the slots when a stack is being introduced into or removed from the box.

In order to make the subject-matter of the present invention readily understood, the following description of its exemplary embodiment is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the packing operations carried out in accordance with the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front sectional view of the framework used in carrying out the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is, a side view of the framework of FIG. 2.

Considered below is a technological diagram of packing of newspaper stacks with paper.

A stack 1 of newspapers is placed onto a lifting-andlowering table 2 (FIG. la), whereupon paper 4 unreeled from a reel 3 is put onto the stack and a framework 5 mounted on a chain conveyor 6 is brought down to the stack.

Then, by raising the table 2 in the direction conventionally shown by the arrow shown in FIG. lb, the paper 4 is pushed along with the stack 1 into the framework 5 in such a manner that the paper wraps the pack along the upper and two opposite lateral sides, the framework providing a constant fixing of the paper relative to the stack 1 without their mutual displacement and excluding the possibility of the newspapers displacement within the stack proper.

Thereupon, the free end of the paper 2 is bent to extend underneath the lower side of the stack 1 by a pusher 7 (FIG. 1c), and the other end of the paper 2 is cut-off by shears 8.

Then, the pusher 7 is brought out from under the stack 1 (FIG. 1d), the conveyor 6 is started to displace the framework 5, and the cut-off end of the paper is bent to extend underneath the lower side of the stack 1 by a stop 9 to form a package 10 with open face sides.

With the package having open face sides completely transferred onto the stop 9, the table 2 is then lowered into its initial position.

Thereupon, the framework 5 is transferred, along with the package 10, to' the position in which the end faces of the package are stopped, and the conveyor 6 is switched off. Depending upon the height of the package and the shape of its end faces, any conventional device can be mounted at the position in which the end faces are stopped. For example, when packing stacks of a considerable height, at the position in which the end faces are stopped, at both sides of the latter there is mounted a device (FIG. 1f shows one device) comprising a pair of plates 11 for bending narrow flaps 12 on the end face of the package 10, a further pair of plates 13 for bending wide flaps 14 on the end face of the package 10 and a means 15 for joining these bent flaps, for instance, by way of their being glued together.

With a completed package formed, the framework 5 is removed from the stack by the conveyor 6 and is transported into the position (FIG. la) to which a successive stack 1 to be packed has been previously delivered along with the paper 4.

The above-described packing process is then repeated.

The framework 5 used in carrying out the method of the present invention is essentially a box 16 (FIGS. 2, 3) open at the bottom and two opposite lateral sides.

Side walls 17 of the box are provided with vertical slots 18 accommodating projections 19 of a plate 20 designed to fix the paper on the stack without their mutual displacement during the course of packing.

Depending upon the height of a stack to be packed placed into the box 16, the plate 20 moves by means of the projections 19 along the slots 18, thereby constantly pressing the paper against the stack.

Thus, the method of packing and the framework used in carrying out the method of make it possible to form high-quality packages and at the same time avoid the necessity of preliminary binding of the stack.

We claim:

1. A method of packing stacks of flat loose articles such as newspapers or the like into packages, comprising the steps of; positioning a stack of said articles having a web of wrapping material superimposed thereon within a split framework consisting of an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion being an openbottomed box having depending front and rear wall portions and including a plate placed on the webcovered articles for locating the wrapping material between the box and said articles, said box being fitted onto the article being pushed up thereinto and embracing said articles along the top of said stack and the sides adjacent said depending wall portions during the entire packing sequence, the lower portion of said framework being stationary; bending the free end of said web of wrapping material to extend below the lower surface of said stack within said split framework and being supported by the lower, stationary part of said split framework; cutting off the other end of said wrapping material at a distance below the stack; bending said lastmentioned cut-off end to extend below the lower surface of said stack so as to form a package having open face sides by axially moving said upper split framework portion relative to the lower portion thereof; and folding in the open ends of said package to provide a closed package, said upper split framework portion being adapted to, after removal of said closed package therefrom, be positioned for packing subsequent sequential stacks of said articles. 

1. A method of packing stacks of flat loose articles such as newspapers or the like into packages, comprising the steps of; positioning a stack of said articles having a web of wrapping material superimposed thereon within a split framework consisting of an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion being an openbottomed box having depending front and rear wall portions and including a plate placed on the web-covered articles for locating the wrapping material between the box and said articles, said box being fitted onto the article being pushed up thereinto and embracing said articles along the top of said stack and the sides adjacent said depending wall portions during the entire packing sequence, the lower portion of said framework being stationary; bending the free end of said web of wrapping material to extend below the lower surface of said stack within said split framework and being supported by the lower, stationary part of said split framework; cutting off the other end of said wrapping material at a distance below the stack; bending said last-mentioned cut-off end to extend below the lower surface of said stack so as to form a package having open face sides by axially moving said upper split framework portion relative to the lower portion thereof; and folding in the open ends of said package to provide a closed package, said upper split framework portion being adapted to, after removal of said closed package therefrom, be positioned for packing subsequent sequential stacks of said articles. 